WORCESTER — The Worcester County Wildcats opened their New England Football League season against the Southern Maine Raging Bulls with a 34-34 tie at Commerce Bank Field at Foley Stadium last night.
With 4 seconds left in overtime, the Raging Bulls’ Jim Bouchard pushed a winning field goal attempt wide left. They also had a chance to win in regulation, with Bouchard missing a field goal attempt with 6 seconds remaining in regulation.
Wildcats quarterback Justin Power of Marlboro completed 17 of 33 passes for 251 yards and two touchdowns with three interceptions.
“Both teams had chances to win, it was a hard-fought game,” said Power, who completed 12 passes for 10 or more yards. He strung together six straight completions at the end of the fourth quarter and the beginning of overtime.
The game was tied, 28-28, entering the fourth quarter when on the first play, Wildcats defensive end Seth Parker recovered a fumble at the Raging Bulls 6, setting up a 1-yard run by running back David Bugan (7 carries, 15 yards).
Southern Maine jumped to a 14-0 lead in the first quarter, but Worcester answered with two touchdown runs by Craig Shippie of Worcester, from 3 and 4 yards, to tie the game at 14.
Worcester took its first lead of the season at 22-21 with 46 seconds left in the first half on Power’s 10-yard touchdown pass to Mel Mullin and a two-point conversion toss to Brian Daniels.
The Raging Bulls regained the lead on the opening drive of the third quarter with a 34-yard pass and Bouchard’s point-after kick to make it 28-22. Worcester responded with Power’s 29-yard scoring strike to Mullin, with a missed PAT leaving the game tied at 28-28.
The Wildcats’ Seth Parker recovered a fumble to start the fourth quarter, which led to a 3-yard scoring run by Bugan. A missed conversion pass left the Wildcats with a 34-28 lead.
With 7:55 left, the Raging Bulls converted a quarterback draw from the 1, but Bouchard missed the PAT, leaving the game tied, 34-34.
Mullin finished with five catches for 101 yards and two touchdowns. Shippie carried nine times for 41 yards.
Linebacker Joe Reddington led the Wildcats with eight tackles and had one interception.
